Thanks for coming here, but we are very hurt. This is what the Archbishop of Bengaluru had to tell Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who called on the former at his residence on Monday.
The chief minister was in for a shock when Archbishop of Bengaluru Rev Bernard Moras lashed out at him for the manner in which the government was handling the situation in the state. The outburst of the archbishop comes in the wake of several instances of churches being attacked in the state over the past few weeks.
"Thank you for coming here, but let me tell you we are all very hurt. What are you doing about the situation? I cannot express as to how hurt I am when I see that the blessed sacrament is hurt and exposed. It is Jesus for us and it is God for us," the archbishop said.
The CM who looked shaken by the archbishop's outburst nodded along as the latter spoke. After hearing out Rev Moras, Yeddyurappa has this to say. "We too are very hurt by what has been going on. I can assure you that we are doing whatever possible to ensure that communal harmony is maintained in the state. We have beefed up security and necessary action is being taken."
Later, a delegation of the Christian community headed by retired high court judge Justice M F Saldanha called on the chief minister at his residence and expressed their anxiety regarding the ongoing assault against the Christian community in the state.
Among their demands were that adequate security be provided to Christians and places of worship. They also sought action against the police commissioner of Bengaluru, superintendent of police and deputy commissioner of Mangalore as they felt that the situation was handled very badly by these people.
